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Tom Boonen, QuickStep, debut new Specialized Roubaix SL4

Tom Boonen (Omega Pharma-QuickStep) will race on Specialized's new S-Works Roubaix (SL4) at this Sunday's Paris-Roubaix

(James Huang/Future Publishing)

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The now even more curvaceous stays of the new Specialized S-Works Roubaix (SL4)

(James Huang/Future Publishing)

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The seatstays now house bigger Zertz dampers that are mechanically preloaded against the surrounding structure

(James Huang/Future Publishing)

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The new fork retains the current 1-1/8 to 1-3/8in tapered steerer diameter

(James Huang/Future Publishing)

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The new fork features bigger pockets to house the giant Zertz dampers

(James Huang/Future Publishing)

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Safety tabs are filed off of the fork tips on Tom Boonen's (Omega Pharma-QuickStep) new Specialized S-Works Roubaix (SL4)

(James Huang/Future Publishing)

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The head tube sports a suble hourglass profile

(James Huang/Future Publishing)

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The internally routed Gore Ride-On Professional System derailleur cables make a brief appearance at the bottom bracket shell

(James Huang/Future Publishing)

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A close-up look at the asymmetrical chainstays on Omega Pharma-QuickStep's new Specialized S-Works Roubaix (SL4)

(James Huang/Future Publishing)

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Tom Boonen (Omega Pharma-QuickStep) would once only race Paris-Roubaix on traditional aluminum box-section tubular wheels but Zipp's 303 rims have now proven themselves to be durable enough for the cobbles

(James Huang/Future Publishing)

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Tom Boonen (Omega Pharma-QuickStep) will race the hell of the north on 27mm-wide FMB Paris-Roubaix tubulars

(James Huang/Future Publishing)

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Omega Pharma-QuickStep had both 25mm and 27mm-wide FMB tubulars mounted atop the team car. Despite only 2mm in difference according to the label, they appeared very different in size

(James Huang/Future Publishing)

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The top tube is again rather broad up front, partially wrapping the head tube to bolster front triangle torsional rigidity

(James Huang/Future Publishing)

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Riders going through the full Specialized BG fit process will now be receiving these headset top caps. Needless to say, Tom Boonen's (Omega Pharma-QuickStep) cap is a little more personalized

Tom Boonen, Sylvain Chavanel and other members of Omega Pharma-QuickStep will tackle the cobbles of Paris-Roubaix aboard a new bike from team sponsors Specialized. The bike doesn't officially have a name yet, but past convention tells us this will be the next-generation S-Works Roubaix SL4.

Specialized wouldn't divulge details of the new bike, as it's still in the final stages of development. Per UCI rules, bikes not only have to meet the governing body's testing process but they also "have to be presented to the media" so we were shown the new bike but weren't given any details.

The seatstays now house bigger Zertz dampers

Still, visual inspection shows several key changes, most notably yet another evolution of the company's distinctive Zertz viscoelastic dampers inserted into the fork blades and seatstays. They're not only bigger than ever but also plug into new pockets in the frame that maximize surface area contact to more effectively damp vibration. Specialized wouldn't disclose the reasoning behind the new shape but we presume it lends more comfort than the current Roubaix SL3.

The uci require that boonen's new roubaix sl4 be shown to the press before he can race it, so on the penultimate eave of paris-roubaix, specialized held an impromptu unveiling: the uci require that boonen's new roubaix sl4 be shown to the press before he can race it, so on the penultimate eave of paris-roubaix, specialized held an impromptu unveiling

The UCI require that Specialized show Boonen's new Roubaix SL4 to the press before he can race it, so on the eve of Paris-Roubaix they held an impromptu unveiling

More information is expected later this summer, but Specialized brand communications manager Ben Delaney told BikeRadarthat the new bike will be "available in very limited quantities in the fall". Specialized say Boonen – as well as new teammate Zdenek Stybar – began testing the new bike on the cobbles late February in Mol, Belgium.

Along with the new chassis, Specialized have a new complementary seatpost concept. Currently referred to as the COBL GOBL-R, Specialized director of advanced development Chris D'Aluisio says it "doubles the compliance" of the Roubaix on its own, but is still stiff enough that it doesn't actually feel like it's moving under normal riding conditions.

Specialized says tom boonen (omega pharma-quickstep) has already tested this novel suspension seatpost but decided to play it safe on race day. specialized unofficially calls this the 'cobl gobl-r':

Specialized say Tom Boonen (Omega Pharma-QuickStep) has tested this novel suspension seatpost but decided to play it safe on race day. It's unofficially called the 'COBL GOBL-R'

Moreover, D'Aluisio says most of the motion of the Roubaix frame itself is fore-aft and Specialized are reaching the limit of how much movement is available. On the other hand, the COBL GOBL-R's motion is mostly up and down and since it only moves on bigger hits, riders apparently aren't bothered by the subtle (and momentary) change in saddle height. Claimed weight for the carbon fiber COBL GOBL-R is 230g.

This season Boonen debuted some significant changes to his personal position after a fit session with Specialized SBCU director Scott Holz. His saddle height is now up a full centimeter, bar width is down from 46cm to 44cm, and tweaks have been made to his shoe insoles, which have, supposedly, improved his pedal stroke.

Overall, Specialized claim the modifications (especially the change in bar width) save Boonen 20 watts of energy at cruising speed and his sprinting style is now significantly more stable and lower up front. It obviously worked in Flanders, and this weekend will likely be total proof of concept for the new Roubaix, and Boonen’s new position.

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James started as a roadie in 1990 with his high school team but switched to dirt in 1994 and has enjoyed both ever since. Anything that comes through his hands is bound to be taken apart, and those hands still sometimes smell like fork oil even though he retired from shop life in 2007. He prefers manual over automatic, fizzy over still, and the right way over the easy way.

Discipline: Mountain, road, cyclocross

Preferred Terrain: Up in the Colorado high-country where the singletrack is still single, the dirt is still brown, and the aspens are in full bloom. Also, those perfect stretches of pavement where the road snakes across the mountainside like an artist's paintbrush.